Course syllabus - Industrial Software Development

Objectives

In this course, students will develop and expand their knowledge of processes, methods and techniques in software engineering. The course will provide the students with knowledge of how to plan, carry out and present an improvement project. This should be based on a company's or organization’s problems and using project models in software engineering.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student shall be able to:

1. search and critically review relevant scientific sources and choose proper research methods
2. account for improvements in processes, methods or techniques in software projects, related to a company's field of activity
3. draw distinctions, specify and formulate a plan for problems with software projects in industry
4. assimilate new knowledge by developing, testing and analyzing new processes methods, or techniques addressing industrial software problems
5. evaluate the introduction of new processes, methods or techniques
6. identify and describe different phases and results of a software improvement project

Course content

This course is an application-driven education. The content is designed and customized based on students’ prior knowledge and their companies’ challenges and problems with respect to their software practices and products. The main activities of the course are done in the form of project work targeting an application/process improvement which students implement. It also entails analysis and evaluation of the improvement, change measures and change capacity in their company. Project work can consist of planning, implementation and evaluation of the introduction of the new knowledge and proposed improvements. The projects will address both relevant basic theory and related research, and should be based on the "state-of-the-art" and "state-of-practice" in change management. Project work and results are presented in reports and also discussed in seminars.

The content of the course is organized into different modules: 1) Introduction to scientific research work, 2) Evaluation of a previous project, 3) Pre-study and project plan,4) Project execution.

Tuition

In this course the student will work with different forms of learning such as problem-based learning (PBL) and knowledge management (Lessons Learned), where new experiences and skills are implemented and / or evaluated in the context of a company or organization.
Flexible teaching methods such as lectures, literature studies, project work and seminars are used throughout the course.

Specific requirements

120 credits of which at least 80 credits in technology or informatics, including at least 30 credits in programming or software development. In addition, at least 18 months of documented work experience in software development or related areas.

In addition, Swedish course B/Swedish course 3 and English course A/English course 6 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish course B/Swedish course 3.

Examination

Exercise (ÖVN1), presentation of research methods exercise, 0,5 credits, (examines the learning objective 1), marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)
Seminar (SEM1), written and oral presentation of project evaluation, individually or in group, 1,5 credits, (examines the learning objectives 2 and 3), marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)
Seminar (SEM2),  written and oral presentation of pre-study and project plan, individually or in group, 1,5 credits, (examines the learning objectives 3, 5 and 6), marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)
Project (PRO1), presentation of project work individually or in group, 4 credits, (examines the learning objectives 4 and 5), marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course completely overlaps with DVA440 Project course in software development for industry.